Rapids "in pain" after 2-1 loss to "good team"

Here's some reaction from the Colorado Rapids after their 2-1 loss to Seattle tonight -- a result that matched the club record six-game losing streak.

Coach Oscar ParejaHis opening thoughts: First of all I want to direct these words to the Colorado Rapids fans: we are feeling so bad, mostly because the support that the team, the players felt from the fans, is incredible. Despite the moment, despite the bad results, despite this situation when we run out of answers, the Colorado Rapids fans are there, pushing. Giving us a great example of courage. We feel it. I want to tell them that we are – I’m going to say embarrassed – because they deserve more than this. But I am the first one to take full responsibility, of the lack of results, of the team. The players have given us 100+ percent. I see the players on the training ground, I see the players in the locker room, I know how much they work to get things right, to turn these things around, so I don’t want anyone to judge them. Because the only responsible [one] is the coach. We have to find a way to get things the way they should be, and the Colorado Rapids fans need it. Because they’re paying to see us, they’re pushing us at home, and we respect that. We’re feeling so bad because that energy is bigger than the results we are giving them. On his thoughts on the game: I’m going to try to say this. I don’t know if it’s the right one, but the players are in pain. Because as I say, I saw them every day at training, and I can see that they want to go the extra mile and do things. And they’re pushing and pushing and pushing and things aren’t coming their way. The ball doesn’t bounce on our side. But they are conscious of being strong and not using more excuses because they don’t want more excuses. They don’t want to say “Oh but we played better, we had many chances but we have just two mistakes.” They don’t want to say that, they don’t want me to say that anymore. They are and I am tired of those excuses. We have to give answers and the answers have to come with results. They are in pain and they are in pain because they are truly professionals. I see it. And I need to step up for my players. If something is not done right, I’m the first one to [face it] and say that I’ve got to take this. I have to do something, I have to help them in a different way. Something has to come from me. But once again the players are suffering because they know how much this team represents to the Colorado Rapids fans. On Seattle’s performance: Seattle’s a good team. [Fredy] Montero, [Mauro] Rosales, they have a good squad. Eddie Johnson is [going] through a fantastic moment. It’s giving us problems but when he hurt us the most was on the set pieces. But other than that I thought it was a matchup, it was a competition with Marvell [Wynne], with Drew [Moor], with Tyrone [Marshall]. The guys were competing with him, he’s certainly a good player. But I thought for most of the game we controlled it. Midfielder Jeff LarentowiczOn what happened tonight: We’ve got to come together, you know. We have to figure it out. Obviously things aren’t working, but the men in the room are the only ones that can figure it out. The season’s not over so it’s time to figure it out and move forward. That’s it, move forward. On what the next step is: We have to put our head down and work harder. I think that there are little things in the game that let us down. I couldn’t say that we played poorly over all, but there are instances in the game that don’t turn out well and that concede goals. If we could sit down as a group and work through that in training and figure it out together and concentrate for 90 minutes then the results will start to turn. Goalkeeper Matt PickensOn solving the losing streak: We need to be part of the solution. We need to look ourselves in the mirror, plain and simple. We’re the only people that are going to be in this locker room to get it done. He’s [head coach Oscar Pareja] behind us 100 percent and he takes losses on the chin for the most part. We’ve got to do better. How we’re going to do that is we are going to get back on the field on Tuesday and work hard. Like I said we need to look ourselves in the mirror and come back refreshed and try to get every point we can out of the rest of the season.

On how to solve the momentary lapses: I don’t know what it is. If I could put my finger on it, I’d do it. We’re all, we’re ready we’re ready we’re ready, and then we’re not ready. Like I said every player on that roster has got to look himself in the mirror, including myself. We’ve just got to keep clawing. Like I said, we’re the only people, in this room, that can get it done and we need to be part of the solution.

On where to go from here: Back on the field and keep working. Where else are you going to go? We’re in this. We’re not going to be overhauling this locker room and brining people in at this point in the season. We’re the people that are going to be doing it. If we want to be here to do it, jump on board, if you’re not, stay home.

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On Eddie Johnson’s goal: We know Eddie is a good guy in the air and he’s one of the guys that we’ve got to look out for. [Mauro] Rosales put a good ball in to the near post for him to get as high as he could to get on the end of the ball. Hats off to them. We’re down 1-0, 1:30 into the game and it’s pretty pathetic. We need to be better. We need to look ourselves in the mirror, like I said. There are no excuses. We’ve seen it before, we’re seeing it again, and we keep seeing it. Like I said, we’re the only people in this room that are going to be able to change it.